The Real Center of Power

In America’s Center Convention Complex, Room 120 hums with a quiet energy. An estimated 1,000 guests are coming together daily—not to debate motions or cast votes, but to seek divine guidance through prayer.

Coordinated by the General Conference Ministerial Association and part of the Revival and Reformation initiative, these prayer sessions provide an opportunity for reflection and intercession. They are open to everyone and provide a space for attendees to pray for the business of the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the personal burdens they carry.

Pastor Don MacLafferty leads in a prayer session. (Photo: Mark Froelich)

These are significant meetings, and decisions are being made for the future of our church. “We believe the Holy Spirit needs to guide those decisions,” said Melody Mason, one of the coordinators. “Of course, we have consecrated leaders who are praying, but we believe that we are like Aaron and Hur behind the scenes, holding up the arms of Moses. We are here to hold up the arms of our leaders, to pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on every aspect of session, whether it’s the worship services, the agendas, the committee meetings, the nominations—we’re here to pray.”

And it’s not only delegates and family members who are taking advantage of the prayer room. Convention workers and people from off the street also feel comfortable joining in the prayer sessions, Mason said. “They’ve told us, ‘This is my favorite place to come during my break,’ and they’re praying with us.”

The prayer room is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and daily programs begin with a revival time when guests join in worship and praise. This is followed by a study on Elijah, during which they learn lessons from his life on how to be God’s last-day “Elijah”—calling for revival and reformation. Pastor Don MacLafferty has been leading these sessions interspersed with a study of the Word and prayer.

Room 120 remains open throughout the day for personal prayer and meditation.

Karilyn Suvankham points out cities on a prayer map. (Photo: Josef Kissinger)

Other Opportunities

The prayer room is not the only place where guests can explore this power. Several ministries in the exhibit hall are offering unique spaces for prayer and reflection.

One special place is a quiet corner in the General Conference Family Ministries booth, covered with brightly colored Post-it notes holding very specific prayer requests. Sharing about their Prayer Rest Stop, Dawn Venn, senior editorial assistant for Family Ministries, said, “People will pause here for quite a while and just pray over the requests they see—the people, the countries. Then they’ll leave and bring back their family members or friends to experience this.”

Others are adopting this idea of a prayer wall as a ministry for their own churches. “It is an easy way to engage the community and church through prayer. Visitors can take a photo of the posted prayer requests to take home to pray over,” said Daniel Taipe, a creative consultant working with Family Ministries. “Guests are recognizing names and prayer requests of friends and promising to pray over them. It’s a simple activity to connect members together.”

A group gathers for prayer around the Spirit of Reflection tree.

And while there are opportunities to uplift specific personal prayer requests, booths such as Mission to the Cities and the Ministerial Association highlight large secular cities and local towns in need of prayer. At the Global Missions exhibit, Karilyn Suvankham, communication specialist with the Department of Adventist Mission at the General Conference, shared how people can use the Mission to the Cities prayer map featuring 580-plus cities of 1 million or more people to specifically pray for the unreached in those areas of the world.

In yet another area, a Spirit of Reflection Tree stands in the center of the North American Division Adventist health-care systems exhibit, a statement to the uniting power of spiritual connection with the divine that crosses cultural boundaries.

Whether whispered in Room 120, scribbled on a Post-it note, or lifted silently in front of a city map, each petition is a reminder that prayer is the heartbeat of the church.

Beth Thomas is an assistant editor of the Adventist Review